The Dublin native praised long-time friend Day-Lewis for his latest performance in historical biopic Lincoln - which secured him a coveted Golden Globe on Sunday.

"If you were giving me bookies' odds, I'd go with Lincoln and Daniel winning the Oscars," Sheridan said. The 63-year-old, who directed Day-Lewis in My Left Foot - which won the actor his first Oscar - said the star was "a force of nature".

"When I was working with Daniel, it was like, this guy is so technically gifted," he said. "I don't think there has ever been an actor like him."

Six-time Oscar nominee Sheridan was at the ticket launch of industry event Digital Biscuit - three days of talks and demonstrations on new digital film-making techniques.

Sheridan first directed Day-Lewis in the 1989 film My Left Foot - in which he played Irish writer and painter Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy. They later worked together on In The Name Of The Father and The Boxer.

"Other actors say to me he's better than anybody," Sheridan said. "I don't know if he can be better than anybody, but he's certainly technically so amazing."

Day-Lewis, who lives in Co Wicklow and holds both Irish and British citizenship, won his second best actor Oscar for There Will Be Blood in 2007. He has been nominated for a third gold statuette for his portrayal of US president Abraham Lincoln, who fought for the abolition of slavery during the American Civil War.

The film, which opens in Europe with a premiere in Dublin on Sunday, is a hot favourite for the awards ceremony on February 24. Day-Lewis, 55, will be the first male to win three Oscars for best actor if he is successful.

The star won the category for his role in Lincoln last night at the Golden Globes - which is widely considered an indicator of the results at the Oscars.